“I was 12 when my mom died. My youngest sibling was a baby, just learning how to walk. It was Easter and she was taken by a brain aneurysm. Gone. At 35. No explanation. I successfully blocked it out of my mind for 20+ years. Attempting to protect my heart. It worked…until it didn’t.”
‘It’s like throwing everything in the backseat, then slamming on the brakes so it all comes flying forward.’: Woman candidly shares journey grieving multiple loved ones
As Long As I Have Her With Me, I Will Always Be Okay
“I have learned more about life from being her mom than I had in my 31 years on this Earth. I found unconditional love in the heart of my daughter.”
‘At 18, I had my WHOLE life ahead of me. It was a FREAK incident.’: Woman endures random back injury, leading to chronic pain, ‘I’m strongest when I embrace myself’
“I began leaking spinal fluid, and it soaked through my sheets. My parents were told they needed to prepare themselves to lose me.”
‘I was told, ‘The sharp, stabbing pain is just your nerves getting used to the surgery.’: Woman shares complications from laser eye surgery
“I had to wear sunglasses to prevent light from stinging my corneas. They said it was a ‘temporary’ side effect, but it wasn’t temporary for me.”
‘I can’t just ‘pop an Advil and be on with my day.’: Mom battling chronic migraines explains ‘this isn’t just a little head pain’
“Migraines are NOT headaches.”
5 Things No One Tells You When You Lose A Child
“As much as I’d like to think my impenetrable brain will hold tight every memory of my son, I can’t even remember what I ate for lunch yesterday. Memories fade.”
‘I think she has some fractures.’ Nobody knew what was wrong with me. The pain was EVERYWHERE.’: Chronic illness warrior fights to ‘stay positive’
“All my problems, physical and mental, changed me. I get more medical visits than visits from my friends. But I still need to see the positives in life.”
‘Who would want a girl with no legs?’ I defied the doctor’s advice until my body BEGGED me to stop.’: Amputee with spina bifida urges ‘life has no guarantees’
“‘Amputate my legs?! Never in my life.’ I wasn’t ready. Thus started a whole new phase of my life. I had to make the best out of what I’ve been through.”
To My Friend Who Would Rather Not Do Christmas This Holiday Season—I See You
“It’s okay if it all feels like too much. It’s okay if you are ready for it all to be over. I may not know what it’s like to walk in your shoes, but you are not alone.”
‘Kids, will you follow me up the stairs?’ We walked into his bedroom. I knew something was wrong. ‘Where is Mommy? What happened?’: HIV warrior details journey with grief, trauma
“‘Lexi has AIDS’ was written in graffiti outside my science class. Soon, the whole school knew. I was spit on, constantly told, ‘I hope you die.’ I was tired of fighting. ‘I don’t care if I die anymore.’ Immediately, my stepmother began planning my death party. ‘Enough is enough.’ A family friend took me to the school counselor to repost the abuse at home.”
